It is frightening to see how a successful Party can fall to pieces very quickly (yes, I am aware that comment cuts broadly). What is curious here is just how dangerous the splitting is, and how obvious that danger is, for the Alberta conservative movement -- split the right and the Provincial Liberals can win. Heck, we might even get a seat or two Federally???
Wildrose supporters rankle Alberta Tories
By Renata D'Aliesio, Calgary Herald
October 21, 2009
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Wildrose+supporters+rankle+Alberta+Tories/2127347/story.html
CALGARY - A spat broke out Tuesday between Tory provincial and federal politicians representing Calgary-West, underscoring divisions between Progressive Conservative and Reform factions in Alberta over the emerging Wildrose Alliance.
Several former MPs -- all with roots in the Reform movement-- have become involved with the new party, while Conservative Calgary West MP Rob Anders attended its leadership convention last weekend.
When asked about the Wildrose Alliance on Tuesday, Health Minister Ron Liepert criticized media attention being given to ex-Tory MLAs who were part of former premier Don Getty's cabinet, which "left this province with the largest debt in our history."
"I'm not about to abandon the principles that I've been involved with at the Progressive Conservative party for the last 25 years simply for the flavour of the month that happens to waft by," said Liepert, MLA for Calgary-West.
Liepert also blasted his federal riding counterpart, noting Anders'connection to the Wildrose Alliance and accusing him of campaigning against him in the 2008 provincial election -- a claim Anders denied.
"We have no relationship, as far as I'm concerned, and I don't really care," he said of Anders.
As Liepert attacked Wildrose Alliance backers, several ex-MPs who are backing the upstart right-wing party contended the PCs have lost their fiscal and democratic compass.
Eric Lowther, MP in Calgary Centre from 1997 to 2000, said Tuesday he thinks the Wildrose Alliance's emergence will put pressure on Premier Ed Stelmach's Tories to adopt "responsible spending."
He also cited an "erosion of our democratic institutions," pointing to this year's ouster of the province's chief electoral officer, who called for numerous voting reforms.
"The Wildrose party is forcing them back to the roots of conservative thinking," Lowther suggested. "We're seeing a healthy revisitation of conservative themes that the long-entrenched PC party has lost."
No comments:
Post a Comment